David Lloyd Jones, Studio E Architects

The Renewable Energy Centre at Kings Langley in the UK is the new headquarters and visitors’ centre for Renewable Energy Systems Ltd, a company whose business is developing wind farms on a global basis. The original buildings on the site housed chickens to provide eggs for the nearby Ovaltine malt drink plant. These buildings, derelict for 10 years, have now been converted and extended to provide for the office and visitors’ centre accommodation. A sustainable approach was taken, particularly in respect to energy supply and use. The design was based on the comprehensive application of passive and active solar measures and is believed to be the first commercial net zero carbon dioxide emissions building in the UK. The project was completed in December 2003 and the energy systems, weather and internal comfort are being monitored over a 2 year period. An Ec Framework 5 grant contributed to the cost of a hybrid PV thermal array, a seasonal heat store, the space heating and the associated mechanical and electrical systems.